Cotton chopper



June 9, 1931. n H, TAYLOR 1,808,871

COTTON CHOPPER Filed May 18, 1929 5 sheets-sheet l Y W w Q 50 5 Q N W vw L 5x OX l N E n o: \l N g In ventor Attorney H. TAYLOR COTTON CHOPPER`lune 9, 1931.

Filed May 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1931. H. TAYLOR 1,808,871

COTTON CHOPPER Filed May 18, `1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor' AttorneyJune 9, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 18, 1929 orney June 9, 1931. H. TAYLOR1,808,871

COTTON CHOPPER Filed May 18, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A torney,

Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics HAL TAYLOR, OFMONCURE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR 0F TWO-THIRDS TO JAMES F. ALASTON, OFPITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA COTTON CHOPPER Application filed May 18, 1929.Serial No. 364,071.

The present invention relates to a machine useful in growing cotton andhas for its prime object to provide in the machine means for harrowing,chopping and cultivating the cotton simultaneously 'and said variousmeans being controllable so as to be inoperative when desired.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provisionof a cotton chopper operable from one of the wheels of the machine.

A still further very important object of the invention resides in theprovision of a machine of this nature which is comparatively simple inits construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, easyto manipulate and adjust, thoroughly eiiicient and reliable in use andoperation, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it isdesigned.

lith the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features ofconstruction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinfater more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodying the features of myinvention,

Figure 2 is a. top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section therethrough takensubstantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable frame member for thechopping element,

Figure 6 is a vertical detailed section taken substantially on the line.6 6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the harrow,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the choppers, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the other chopper.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that numeral 5denotes an elongated frame bar pivotally lengaged as at 6 on the centerof a front axle structure 7 having wheels 8 journaled thereon withsuitable draft means 9 associated therewith.

A triangular harrow frame 10 has harrow teeth 11 depending therefrom. Aninverted U-shaped frame 12 rises from the other frame 10 and the legs ofthe frame 12 straddle the bar 5 and a bell crank lever 14 has one endsecured to the bight or upper portion of the frame. 12 and anintermediate portion journaled in the bracket structure 15 rising fromthe frame bar 5, so that by rocking the other end of the lever 14 theharrow may be raised and lowered in respect to the ground.

A hook 16 is pivotally mounted on the bracket structure 15 so that itmay be engaged over the lever for holding the harrow in a raisedposition when desired.

A bracket arm 17 extends laterally and inclines downwardly from theframe bar 5 to the rear of the harrow and has journaled therein acrankshaft 18, one end of which is journaled in rear aXle structure 19 havingwheels 2O journaled thereon and supporting the rea-r end of the framebar 5. Chopper Shanks 21 and 22 have ends journaled on the crank of thecrank shaft 18 and the other ends thereof are provided with choppingblades 23, 24 respectively. Intermediate portions of these shanks 21 and22 rest in open top portions 26 of a loop frame 27 slidable through theframe bar 5 and the Lipper cross member 28 of the frame 27 moves in aguide structure 29 on which is pivoted a lever 30 having one end engagedon the upper Vcross portion 28 so that by rocking the lever 30, thechoppers may be swung upwardly or allowed to move downwardly as may bedesired.

A pinion 31 is rotatably mounted on the crank shaft 18 and a clutchmember 32 is associated between the shaft 18 and the pinion 31 andoperable by a fork 33 controllable by a lever 34 pivoted on a bracket 35extending forwardly'from the rear aXle structure 19.

A gear 36 is fixed to one rear wheel 29 and in mesh with the pinion 31so that when the clutch 32 is in and moves forwardly, said crank shaft18 is rotated bv said rear wheel thereby swinging the cranks of thecrank i om shaftI and reciprocating and oscillating the choppers as willbe quite apparent.

A pair of cultivators 40 are disposed to the rear of the machine havingtheir forward ends attached to the axle structure 19 by means of chains41. Bars 42 rise from the cultivators and are pivotally engaged withlevers 43 which extend through an opening, 44 in a guide 45 one to eachside of a spear head structure 46 so that these levers may be rockeddownwardly and caught under the spear head to hold the cultivatorsraised when desired.

From the above detailed description it will be seen that I have. deviseda machine which permits simultaneous harrowing of the ground, stackingof the cotton, and cultivating of the ground in the order mentioned andpermits any of these three mechanisms to be thrown out of operation ifdesired.

An attendant may be disposed on the rear axle structure within easyaccess of all the control levers.

lt is thought that the construction, operation and utility andadvantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilledin this art without a. more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described in detailmerely for the purposes of exempliiication since in actual practice itattains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in thestatement of the invention and the above description.

lt will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and inthe combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed or sacrilicing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

A machine of the class described comprising a wheeled structure7 a crankshaft mounted for rotation in the structure, means for operativelyconnecting the crank shaft with one wheel of the structure for actuationthereby, a pair of shanks engaged on the cranks of the crank shaft,blades on said shanks, a loop frame slidable vertically through thestructure and having open top pocket portions at the bottom thereof toslidably receive the shanks and support the intermediate portionsthereof, a guide member for the-upper portion of said frame, a

lever swingably and pivotally mounted onsaid guide member and engagedwith said frame so that by swinging the lever said fram may be raised orlowered for adjusting said shanks and blade.

In testimony whereof I aX my signature.

HAL TAYLOR.

